Crews reinstated, Auburn’s turn…

After a 30-day suspension, Duke Crews has been reinstated at Tennessee. This resoldifies the Vols’ role atop the SEC, but proves Pearl is not a strict enforcer of the rules. If a kid is caught with illegal drugs on campus, expulsion should be considered - much less missing at least part of the basketball season. Crews now avoids missing a single game despite his impossibly unintelligent decision-making.

Two major contributors for Auburn’s super-experienced club have received bad news…and one of them brought it on themselves. Josh Dollard, the Tigers’ leading scorer and rebounder from last season (12.5ppg, 7.0rpg) is taking a medical redshirt for this season and will retain two years of elligibility beginning next season. Quan Prowell, who averaged 12.0ppg and 5.3rpg is suspended for five games due to a violation of team rules - Prowell was suspended the first 11 games of last season.

The loss of Dollard will leave Auburn’s already undersized “front line” even thinner, with Korvotney Barber now the only returning man with any experience under the basket. Lebo will now be forced to put either 6′9″ Heramb (1.8ppg, 1.3rpg) or France-native 7′1″ freshman Boubacar Sylla under the basket and see how things work out.

The loss of Dollard knocks Auburn out of the race for the West, furthering the gap between Arkansas/Mississippi State and the rest of the pack with Alabama losing both Davidson and Steele. The War Eagles also can effectively kiss any hope for the NCAA’s goodbye without some ingenious coaching - something Lebo isn’t exactly known for - and will again be forced to strive for the NIT’s.

2007-2008 Preseason All-SEC First Team

Now we move on to the A-listers…

All-SEC First Team

Chris Lofton (Tennessee - Shot Guard - Senior - 20.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.4spg) - Lofton is easily the best pure shooter in the nation, and a contender for National Player of the Year. The SEC Player of the Year and an All-American a year ago, there is no reason why Lofton shouldn’t continue to improve both his shot and all-around game during his last year as a Volunteer. Despite suffering a short-lived ankle sprain last season, Lofton shot an SEC-leading 41.9% from behind the arc and also added the drive-and-dish to his arsenal. The only negative concerning Lofton is the Vols’ reliance upon him. If the team can avoid becoming too uni-dimensional, Lofton could shoot Tennessee to a National Championship.

Jamont Gordon (Miss. State - Point Guard - Junior - 16.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 5.3apg) - Not many point guards in the nation average 7.1 rebounds per game. The question is, are the Bulldogs relying too heavily on Gordon to supply them or does it come natural? Regardless, Gordon is built like a power forward but has the passing and dribbling abilities of a point. Because of his size, athleticism, and talent, Gordon is a mis-match against both guards and forwards. If the Tennessee-native can continue to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio as he did late last season, Gordon could very well make a case for National Player of the Year.

Shan Foster (Vanderbilt - Power Forward - Senior - 15.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.2apg) - Foster is a stereotypical do-everything power guard. He shoots decently from behind the arc (34.6%), but his jumpers are almost impossible to defend with his hands-behind-the-head release. His rebounding numbers will need to improve to truly step up and be the go-to guy the Commodores will need him to be, but Foster has more than enough ability to do it.

Richard Hendrix (Alabama - Power Forward - Junior - 14.6ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.2bpg) - The fact that Hendrix is only a junior is nothing short of scary. One of the most overlooked big men in the country, Hendrix averaged 14.6ppg last season despite playing behind fellow Tide standout Jermareo Davidson. Hendrix will be forced to make up for a lack of experienced inside depth this season, and thus his numbers should explode. If Hendrix can maintain his SEC-best 60.2% field goal percentage and avoid injury, he should be recognized by season’s end as one of the best under-the-basket players in the nation.

Patrick Beverly (Arkansas - Shot Guard - Sophomore - 13.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.1apg) - The lone underclassman to make first team, Beverly earned it - and a reputation as an unstoppable shooter - by shooting 38.6% from behind the arc to average nearly 14ppg to lead all SEC freshmen in scoring . One of the best pure shooters in his class, and last season’s SEC Freshman of the Year, Beverly must now focus on improving his already-impressive ball-handling abilities and become more accurate on his shot. Also wise would be to leave the rebounds to Arkansas’ stable of great big men and instead get down-court for the quick transition basket…something I’m sure Pelphrey has mentioned to him. Beverly is a fierce competitor and looks to be one of the conference’s best shooters both this coming season and two to come.

But which wins the coveted SEC:GBD 2007-2008 SEC Player of the Year? Stay tuned…

NCAA proven right…

Billy Smith, Tennessee transfer Tyler Smith’s father, has passed away. Tyler, if you’ll remember, transferred into Tennessee in order to be closer to his ailing father, who was suffering from cancer.

The NCAA allowed Smith to transfer in without losing the year of elligibility due to the extreme circumstances - and has now been proven correct. The decision was a good one, otherwise Tyler would likely have not been close enough to be by his father’s side as he passed.

Not often will you hear me say this, but the NCAA got something right. In such a tragic time for Tennessee and Smith, great to see that the correct decision was made.

Tennessee releases schedule…

Here’s a look…

 vs. Temple
Legends Classic - Will host first two rounds
vs. Middle Tennessee
Legends Classic - Final two rounds in Newark, NJ.
vs. North Carolina A&T
vs. Louisana-Lafayette
@ UT-Chattanooga
@ Western Kentucky
vs. UNC-Asheville
@ Xavier
@ Gonzaga
vs. Ohio State
@ Memphis
————————-
vs. Ole Miss
vs. Arkansas
vs. Auburn
@ Miss. State
@ Alabama
@ LSU

Now this is what I call a schedule. Pearl has assured the team will be ready for the SEC schedule, playing four very competitive teams on the road in the pre-conference slate. At Mempis could be a top-five showdown, and Ohio State at home could prove to be a Top-25 matchup.

The Vols’ pairing versus the West is not necessarily favorable, as they must travel to MSU and Alabama, but are provided the opportunity to welcome Arkansas at home.

This looks to be a very entertaining schedule, and Tennessee will be challenged greatly this season.